Took the 9am ferry from Wellington to Picton. 3 hour ferry ride -- bit rough when we were leaving Wellington (incredibly windy) but calmed down once we got into open water. Bit ferry -- takes cars, trucks, etc (I think it's one of the primary ways that goods get to the South Island). Car rental thing was interesting -- you drop off your car in Wellington and pick up the same type of car in Picton (same rental agreement) -- makes total sense -- that way you don't have to worry about a reservation for your car (and the ferry was completely full (people & cars) -- so I guess that can a real problem. We had a pod of small dolphins swimming around the right-side of the boat when we entered the North Island harbor area (I'm surprised the ferry didn't tip over with everyone running over to see them).
My car in Picton didn't have a trunk cover (I have a Rav4 -- a small SUV) -- so after several "discussions" with several people -- they agreed to have someone bring a cover to my motel in Kaikoura (the person had to drive up from Christchurch -- 2.5 drive each way -- so not a little hop). I don't really understand why there wasn't a trunk cover -- who wants to have their luggage exposed, etc? They gave me some stupid line that they remove them because people complain about them -- made no sense to me at all.
2 hour drive from Picton to Kaikoura. Easy drive & very scenic. Rolling hills & vineyards to start and then a coastal drive.
Didn't do much in Kaikoura -- checked in to motel (for 2 nights) at 3:30pm -- walked around a bit -- had a really early dinner -- and that was pretty much it. Dinner was green-lipped mussels (a super food!) and local lamb --- both were just delicious. Washed it down with 2 glasses of wine from Locharburn (Central Otago) -- a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir -- both very nice.
On Sunday -- off on a whale-watching tour. Kaikoura is famous for it's whale-watching tours. The Hikurangi Trench is right off the coast -- deep water + lots of fish = sperm whales who live here year-round. And looking forward to having some crayfish -- another thing that Kaikoura is famous for!
Weather: sunny / very windy, 65 - 70 (much cooler than the North Island)
Miles Walked: 3.5
km Driven: 165.7
My car in Picton didn't have a trunk cover (I have a Rav4 -- a small SUV) -- so after several "discussions" with several people -- they agreed to have someone bring a cover to my motel in Kaikoura (the person had to drive up from Christchurch -- 2.5 drive each way -- so not a little hop). I don't really understand why there wasn't a trunk cover -- who wants to have their luggage exposed, etc? They gave me some stupid line that they remove them because people complain about them -- made no sense to me at all.
2 hour drive from Picton to Kaikoura. Easy drive & very scenic. Rolling hills & vineyards to start and then a coastal drive.
Didn't do much in Kaikoura -- checked in to motel (for 2 nights) at 3:30pm -- walked around a bit -- had a really early dinner -- and that was pretty much it. Dinner was green-lipped mussels (a super food!) and local lamb --- both were just delicious. Washed it down with 2 glasses of wine from Locharburn (Central Otago) -- a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir -- both very nice.
On Sunday -- off on a whale-watching tour. Kaikoura is famous for it's whale-watching tours. The Hikurangi Trench is right off the coast -- deep water + lots of fish = sperm whales who live here year-round. And looking forward to having some crayfish -- another thing that Kaikoura is famous for!
Weather: sunny / very windy, 65 - 70 (much cooler than the North Island)
Miles Walked: 3.5
km Driven: 165.7
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